I call these "Summit Stones".....
After gathering these small rocks for many years, while out on adventures, I now splash a bit of paint on them, after 'Mixing In' very special elements with the colors. Then I give these stones back...
The musings here are simply about the wonders of adventure and inspiration. It's all about the importance of giving back and passing forward.....

Saturday, June 09, 2012

"Those Who Have A Why....."

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how...". Nietzsche"Such happiness as life is capable of comes from the full participation of all our powers in the endeavour to wrest from each changing situation and experience its own full and unique meaning....". John Dewey"Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked...". Viktor FranklThese words were certainly posed for us all to ponder, especially Nietzsche's above. Interestingly, he was an accomplished mountaineer of his time, and this quote of his is one of my very favorites. After some shared thoughts from Craig and also recently from Kevin , I have been musing about how there is so much within the subtle significance, the often hidden meanings , for why we do what we do out in the wild places. I've written today's post as specific affirmation for all the links under my "Giving Back & Passing Forward" section. All of the quotes here speak to their amazing and moving efforts these dedicated Adventurers put forth in the important support of so many others and their own trials and challenges...When we rest and pause for reflection upon what is meant by our adventuring, we discover many impelling reasons. For what purpose do we wander - is it for the freedom, the joy, and the fun of it all... We ponder too what grounds make up our intentions for our adventures; as it could also involve the deep confidence and competencies developed, and the fulfilling skills we eventually so practice and polish... All so very true. Then there is the pursuit of our dreams and visions, which are truly meaningful to us as premises too, are they not Dear Friends...We often pledge ourselves for other reasons as well, involving motivations not only of our own, but mindful of dedication and devotion for a cause , an entrusting through our adventure efforts in support of others who have their personal challenges of health and life. Such a weighty 'why' can provide powerful motivations unknown to us before; such momentous justification creates motives that take us so much further, very much farther, and truly more inward...Every single one of these individual explanations speak to the depth of the 'why's' behind our commitment, our endurance, our resoluteness, even when amidst the challenges, trials, and inevitable storms out there and within. What is of real consequence then, reflecting the why's of our adventure lives, not only represents our chosen adventure objectives like a mountain summit - but more accurately reflect the personal and potent meanings these have for each of us...So, here I now share a small compendium, a special collection, of further Viktor Frankl favorite quotes that echo such important meanings - for the 'why's' behind and beyond all of what we do out there:"Man's search for meaning is a primary force in his life... I think the meaning of existence is not invented by ourselves, but rather detected...."."There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions, as the knowledge that there is a meaning in one's life...""Suffering ceases to be suffering in some way at the moment it finds a meaning...""The meaning in life always changes, but it never ceases to be...".I hope you have enjoyed this musing today about meaning and reflections among these insightful quotes, as a dedication this adventure season for the wonderful efforts, and the important meaningful work, each of those in my "Giving Back & Passing Forward" link section performs in 'Adventuring for Another Reason' ..... DSD

Thank you Kevin and my appreciation for sparking today's musings from your comments on meaning. Thank you so much for your humbling Post as well...

4 comments:

:)
said...

I have read Frankl's books too and they are powerful ways of looking at us and the world.Great post DSD.When we climb we talk about these things too and what meaningful talks they are.I really like my summitstone too and the adventuremuse.:)

My Summit Stone was discovered in Waterton while completing the last of my Triple Crown. You write about meaning and that is what my whole adventure was all about for me. Meanings in many ways. Meanings like the quotes you have here. Meanings in what we found while up there.My sincere appreciation DSD for your meaningful gift of my cherished Summit Stone.Thank you,Jacques

"To muse: to ponder; reflect upon. In Greek & Roman Mythology, muses were the daughters of zeus; inspirers of effort, music & poetry"

"THE ACID TEST OF A TRUE ADVENTURER, IF PRESENTED WITH CERTAIN ANONYMITY, IS WHETHER EACH OF US WOULD STILL HAVE MADE THE JOURNEY BEYOND THE LAST BLUE MOUNTAIN..." M. Clark

"Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight... it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of memory, and old tales, of the high and distant mountains" J.Tolkien

"We are all in some sense, mountaineers, and going to the wilderness is going home" J.Muir

"Do you know what these elements are? What they mean? These elements of fire, water, wind, earth, and metals? Do you realize that you are elemental too?" Grandfather, Mountain Elder

"A LIFE LIST, IS IN THE END, NOTHING MORE THAN A TOOL TO LOOK BACK ON OUR LIVES AND CONSIDER HOW WE SPENT OUR BRIEF MOMENTS ON EARTH. AND WHAT IF, IN THOSE FINAL BREATHS, YOU REALIZE - I NEVER GAVE ANYTHING BACK..." J.B. MACKINNON

"PEOPLE WHO SEEK ADVENTURE ARE TRUE POETS OF LIVING..." ANON

"Adventure does give you a chance to come to terms with yourself. What you find out about yourself just comes as a gift" D.Scott

"You went up that mountain one person, and have come down a very different being" Grandfather, Mountain Elder

"By walking out alone into the wilderness... I can after a while begin to see and to hear and to think and in the end to feel with a new and exciting accuracy" C.Fletcher

"Two voices are there; one is of the sea, one is of the mountains" Wordsworth

"The narrow ribbon between land and ocean is a perfect place to understand the mind of wisdom" Deng Ming-dao

"There will be a day when you will climb to a place where the mountain and the sky merge" Grey Wolf

"IF YOU TAKE THAT STONE, YOU MUST GIVE SOMETHING BACK..." GREY WOLF

"The Latin word 'finis' has two meanings: the end or finish, and a goal to reach" V.Frankl